Strasbourg, 22/05/2000 (Agence Europe) - With the adoption, by 179 votes for, 48 against and 15 abstentions, of the report by Dutch Green member Kathalijne Buitenweg, the European Parliament calls, in the context of single reading consultation, for the draft directive relating to implementation of the principle of equal treatment between persons without distinction of race or ethnic origin to be reinforced. Parliament would like the field of application of this directive to be extended to cover practically all activities of social life. Member States would thus be held to take measures to combat more effectively race discrimination in the world of work, as well as regards social protection, education and housing. The definition of discrimination should include inequality of treatment based on religion, conviction and nationality. Parliament would like groups of people, especially associations, to be able to lodge complaints against discriminatory behaviour. The European Commission's proposal provides for it being up to the defence to prove that there was no violation of the principle of equal treatment. The rapporteur would like to complement this text with the specification that "the plaintiff benefits from any doubt that may remain", but Parliament opposed this be rejecting the amendment by 24 votes, against 190 and 27 abstentions. Parliament also placed emphasis on this directive becoming part of the acquis communautaire that candidate countries will have to accept to join the European Union. Parliament also agrees that, due to requirements specific to a professional activity, Member States, may provide for different treatment. It rejected, by 80 votes, against 145 and 4 abstentions, an amendment tabled by the EPP Group wanting to extend this possibility of discrimination basing it not only on race or ethnic origin, but also on religion or political conviction.
During the debate, Mrs. Buitenweg defended the strengthening of a proposal which she admitted already provided sound "minimum protection". She placed emphasis on the need for "incitement to discrimination" also to be taken into account (Parliament adopted two amendments along those lines) as well as for the effective fight against discrimination in the framework of the granting of visas and political asylum. "In no case can Europe accept racism, and the European Parliament has to send out a clear message of the rejection of any form of discrimination", she added. Dutch Christian-Democrat Arie Oostlander said he agreed with the report, while considering that certain elements were not essential. On behalf of the EPP-ED Group, he pleaded in favour of an extension of the exemption granting Member States the right to apply discrimination for certain jobs. Belgian Socialist Anne Van Lancker accused the Conservative Party of the EPP-ED Group of seeking to sabotage the report and the directive.
Commissioner Ana Diamantopulou said that she accepted half the amendments, especially those regarding equal opportunities and the inclusion of indirect discrimination. She was unable to accept the others for technical reasons or because their adoption by the Council was "impossible".